Credit: WHOThe TB-Free Central Asia Initiative is a regional effort led by the WHO Regional Office for Europe aimed at eliminating TB and drug-resistant TB in central Asia by 2030. The initiative provides a strategic framework for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to accelerate action, foster cross-border collaboration and ensure equitable access to diagnostics, treatment and care.
Officially launching on 7 April 2025 in Astana, Kazakhstan, the initiative promotes coordinated action to address shared challenges – such as migration-related TB, limited access to innovations and health system constraints – while leveraging regional synergies and innovations like rapid diagnostics and shorter regimens. It emphasizes national ownership, regional cooperation and technical support from the WHO Regional Office for Europe to align costed national TB plans with global targets. The TB-Free Central Asia Initiative reinforces the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s commitment to supporting countries through evidence-based interventions, capacity building and policy translation. Positioned within the broader European Programme of Work 2.0 and the Global Health Security Agenda, the initiative contributes to health system strengthening and enhanced regional health security.
The WHO Regional Office for Europe calls on all five central Asian countries to endorse this unified approach to achieving a TB-free future.
Access the TB-Free Central Asia Initiative’s strategic framework here.
For more TB updates, check out the TB CAB Weekly Newsletter (Issue #22, 11 July 2025).
The newsletter is brought to you by the Global TB Community Advisory Board (TB CAB) with the support of Treatment Action Group (TAG) and EATG. Subscribe to the newsletter here.
Source : World Health Organization
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